Eligibility

Eligibility

The NCAA, our conferences, and the college have eligibility rules that must be followed. Coaches must be familiar with these rules, especially with regard to transfer students and academic eligibility.

The NCAA requires student-athletes to be full-time students making normal progress. At Juniata, a student must be passing a minimum of 12 credits per semester to meet this requirement. Additionally, the student-athlete must complete his/her athletic participation during the first 10 semesters in which the student is enrolled. Every student-athlete must complete required NCAA Student Athlete Statements/forms before each year of participation

At any NCAA Division III institution a student may receive financial aid up to the cost of attendance (tuition and fees, room and board, books, transportation, and other expenses incidental to attendance) if the aid is based on financial need and not associated with athletics ability.

Collegiate athletic eligibility may be jeopardized if a student has agreed (verbally or in writing) to be represented by an agent while in high school or college, regardless of whether the agreement becomes effective immediately of after the last season of college eligibility. Also, receiving any benefits or gifts by the athlete, their family or friends from an agent could jeopardize college eligibility. If an individual contacts an athlete about marketing their athletic ability, they should exercise great caution. If they have concerns about a player agent, contact the AD or the NCAA Compliance Officer for assistance.

Collegiate Athletic eligibility may also be jeopardized by becoming a professional. The NCAA may consider an athlete a professional if they:

Are paid (in any form) or accept the promise of pay for playing in an athletics contest.

Sign a contract or verbally commit with an agent of a professional sports organization.

Ask that their name be placed on a draft list

Use their athletics skill for pay in any form (for example, TV commercials, and demonstrations).

Play on a professional athletics team.

Participate on an amateur sports team and receive any salary, incentive payment, award, gratuity, educational expenses or expense allowances (other than playing apparel, equipment and actual and necessary travel, and room and board expenses).

To be eligible for any intercollegiate competition, a student-athlete must be making satisfactory progress toward a recognized degree and must satisfy the institutional eligibility requirements as set forth by the official catalog of the institution.

At Juniata College and in accordance with the above stipulations, any full-time student making satisfactory progress is eligible to compete. Students on academic probation are eligible to compete. Coaches are responsible for proper attention to the needs of these students.

A student-athlete, with eligibility remaining, may practice and compete while enrolled in less than a minimum full time program of studies, provided the student is enrolled in the final semester of the baccalaureate program and the institution certifies that the student is carrying (for credit) the courses necessary to complete degree requirements.

All student-athletes must fill out a Medical Information and appropriate insurance forms prior to participation. These forms verify that each participant is insured and provides the athletic department with other necessary information.

Complete rosters must be turned in to the athletic director’s office within one week after the start of each season. Eligibility forms are due to the registrar who will inform the athletic director and the NCAA Compliance Officer regarding any student who is academically ineligible or has fallen below the requisite 12 credit hours.

It is recommended that coaches monitor their student-athletes' eligibility and academic progress. This can be done by (1) keeping open communication with student-athletes regarding their academic progress and (2) by contacting individual professors to ask for progress reports on student-athletes.

Transfer students - In recognizing the individual nature of most transfer cases, coaches are advised to discuss with the athletic director specific details of all transfer student cases. Coaches should realize that transfer rules prohibit any contact with a prospective transfer student until permission is received from the other college's athletic director (from Divisions I and II) or the student has self-released (from Division III only).

Club Team Participation – Participation on either a two-year or four-year club team is exempted from the application of NCAA Eligibility legislation, provided Juniata does not sponsor the sport on the varsity intercollegiate level.

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